Published at 21st of June 2023 08:01:02 AM

If the elder of a house came to the mansion as a guest, it wouldnt at all be unusual for them to be received by Mistress Ilyin. But if a member of their family were truly missing, and the search for them was an urgent matter, wouldnt it make more sense to ask the Master of the mansion, who had soldiers at his disposal to help the search?

And an elder would know that the Grandmaster of the Delrose knights and the Master were one and the same. Cold as the Duke of Winter could appear sometimes, he would never ignore it if one of his own citizens was missing.

So why did the elder of Mille come to her? Was it because he thought her easier to deal with than Den?

Ill ask his Majesty to find her as soon as possible, she said. Not the answer the elder wanted, no doubt, but the best answer for Delrose. The Rippo problem was sensitive, something that could lead to real trouble between Delrose and Mille. It would be a simple enough matter to cast Delrose as her captors.

But, she asked, are you certain that she left the estate? Its April . . . so if she left, surely she couldnt have gone alone.

Milles elder coughed nervously before answering.

I havent seen any sign of her leaving, he said. But she hasnt been seen anywhere around the estate, so what else could it be?

Then, Ilyin said, her voice taking a delicate, troubled tone. I would ask that you look for her around the estate first.

She stood suddenly.

Ah, mmadam, the elder stammered, his eyes widening.

Now, she said simply, her eyes addingisnt this urgent?She hurried out of the room before the elder could respond. As she walked, she met the eyes of the 7th floor Delrose maids as they passed, and the maids chuckled quietly amongst themselves after shed gone.

Oh my, maam, one whispered.

Shes gotten better at acting, winked the other.

The people of the winter region were hardy, by necessity. When called upon, they could at least act as though they were unaffected by the brutal weather. But only the Duke of Winter himself was truly unaffected by it. Only he could endure without falling to the cold. So, if someone was lost out in the cold, there was no one better suited to the search than he.

The lady of the Mille family is gone, he said in a serious tone. If youd told me at the round table, we could have searched earlier.

A missing family member, especially of one of the noble families, was a serious matter. Never mind that everyone here knew Rippo wasnt missing at all.

Though I must ask, Aden said, putting down his pen. He grabbed his coat and stood as though about to rush out the door. Why didnt you search around Mille before coming here?

The elder stammered just as he had when Ilyin had asked the same question.

We did look for her in the estate, but she was nowhere to be seen, he mumbled.

Is she so stealthy, Aden asked, cocking his head quizzically. A wonder she didnt join the Milles knights.

He cast a glance at the weather outside.

Green Mille or not, its still April, he said. His face turned cold as he looked at the elder. The Milles estate was usually spared the harsher cold of the others, but April was still April. There was no way anyone could remain out and about in such weather. The family must be worried, but we should thoroughly search the estate first.

I . . . apologise for the disturbance, the elder said, bowing deeply. We will search the estate more carefully, and report back to you.

He turned and left with a quick pace. Ilyin and Aden looked at each other in their shared secret. Silently, they both laughed.

A strange commotion spread through the mansion, and most of it came from Shining Elo. They seemed to stumble about as though lost.

It seemed that Elos elder had no intention of handing power over to a son too weak to handle winter. And because of that, the people of Elo were left not knowing what to do, or who would lead them now.

There were now many obvious holes in their rosters, so the Delrose knights again went to assist in their defense. And like before, they gathered information as they did.

Elos influence in the mansion has collapsed thanks to this, Ilyin said, smiling. Aden turned the light a little brighter so he could see her violet eyes.

Yes, he said. Its the first time theres been such a large change in the mansion.

The landscape of power in Biflten hadnt changed in at least a few hundred years. Now it was changing rapidly, and it was all thanks to Ilyin that it happened as smoothly as it did. The Delrose knights were able to go almost freely into Elos territory thanks to the precedent she set.

Den, she said, resting into his embrace, you said youd bring summer back to Biflten.

Yes, he said simply. I will.

Everyone is excited to see it, she said. The way they yearned for it, the childlike excitement they had for it, it was almost amusing to someone like Ilyin, who hadnt been in the winter region her whole life.How would it feel, she wondered.How would it feel to never know sunlight, then see it beaming through a cloud?

I heard there was a bit of change in Mille, Aden said, remembering Idiths report. Ilyin thought of the elder and laughed.

The elder must have believed she came to the mansion, she said. Or else he couldnt have come all the way here to look for her. Elo is a short trip from the mansion, but Mille isnt.

Aden nodded. It was April, if Rippo had tried any normal means to get to the mansion without Setoze, she would have been discovered in whatever carriage she stowed away in. If she went out into the cold . . . well, she would likely have frozen to death.